Reporter makes bold statement on Jonathan Lekkerimaki and the Canucks

The Vancouver Canucks will open up their training camp in exactly two weeks, as they take to the ice in Penticton to prepare for the 2024-25 season.

There aren't many spots up for grabs on the Canucks' opening night roster, but there are some names to keep an eye on in training camp, including 2022 first-round pick Jonathan Lekkerimaki.

Lekkerimaki got his first taste of North American hockey towards the end of the 2023-24 season, appearing in six games for the Canucks' AHL affiliate in Abbotsford. This will be Lekkerimaki's first training camp with the Vancouver Canucks and while he's likely heading to the Abbotsford Canucks to start the season, one NHL.com reporter believes that he could be in the mix for an opening night roster spot.

In a recent mailbag article, Dan Rosen shared that a strong training camp for Jonathan Lekkerimaki could change the Canucks' plans and force them into having him on their roster to start the 2024-25 campaign.

Last season, Lekkerimaki had a breakout year in the SHL with Orebro HK, registering 31 points (19 goals, 12 assists) in 46 games. He showed to everyone in the organization that he was worthy of being selected in the first round, two years ago.

With training camp getting underway on September 19th, Jonathan Lekkerimaki will be one name to keep an eye one and he'll certainly be given plenty of opportunities during preseason games in the coming weeks.

Source: Dan Rosen/NHL.com
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